Understanding the nuances of tax relief for using your personal vehicle for work can lead to significant savings. By familiarising yourself with HMRC's approved mileage rates you can ensure you are adequately reimbursed and compliant with current regulations.

If you are an employee you may qualify for tax relief if you use your own vehicle, whether it's a car, van, motorcycle, or bike. As a general rule, tax relief is not available for ordinary commuting to and from your regular workplace. However, different rules apply to temporary workplaces, where the expense is typically allowed, as well as for business-related mileage when using your own vehicle.

Employers typically reimburse employees based on a set rate per mile, depending on the mode of transportation. HMRC publishes approved mileage rates for vehicles used on business trips. When employers use these approved rates, the payments made are not considered to be taxable benefits.

If your employer reimburses you at a rate lower than the approved mileage rates, you can claim tax relief for the shortfall using mileage allowance relief. For cars, the approved mileage allowance payment is 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, and 25p per mile for every additional business mile. The approved rates for other modes of transport are 20p per mile for bicycles and 24p per mile for motorcycles.

Additionally, you may receive an extra payment of 5p per passenger per business mile from your employer if you transport colleagues in your vehicle for work-related journeys.